Shloka 15

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena

Devanagari script

तमापतन्तं सहसा घोररूप॑ विशाम्पते । चिच्छेद शतधा राजज्शैनेय: कृतहस्तवत्‌,प्रजानाथ! नरेश! सहसा आते हुए उस भयंकर बाणके सात्यकिने सिद्धहस्त योद्धाकी भाँति सौ टुकड़े कर डाले

Transliteration

tam āpatantaṃ sahasā ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃpate | ciccheda śatadhā rājñaḥ śaineyaḥ kṛtahastavat || prajānātha nareśa |

Translation

ప్రజానాథా, నరేశా! అకస్మాత్తుగా దూసుకొచ్చిన ఆ భయంకర బాణాన్ని శైనేయుడైన సాత్యకి నిపుణ యోధుడిలా వంద ముక్కలుగా నరికివేశాడు.

Word by Word

तम्him / that one

आपतन्तम्falling upon / rushing towards

सहसाsuddenly, at once

घोररूपम्of terrible form

विशाम्पतेO lord of the people

चिच्छेदcut, severed

शतधाinto a hundred pieces / a hundredfold

राजन्O king

शैनेयःŚaineya (Sātyaki, descendant of Śini)

कृतहस्तवत्like one with accomplished skill / like a master-handed warrior

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śaineya (Sātyaki)

the king (addressed as viśāṃpati / prajānātha / nareśa)

a dreadful missile/arrow (weapon)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid the chaos of battle, disciplined mastery and alertness can prevent catastrophe; the verse highlights controlled skill used in the service of protection rather than mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

A terrifying missile rushes toward the battlefield; Sātyaki (Śaineya) reacts instantly and, with expert precision, cuts the incoming weapon into a hundred fragments, neutralizing the threat.